Support our non-partisan non-profit newsroom 💜 Donate now

Getting the "USDA Organic" seal costs time and money, but it can open doors to a growing market

Jan 23, 2024
Farmers and food companies need to pass rigorous inspections by third-party certifiers.
Organic inspector Dovi Naparstek at work in a facility owned by a chocolate maker in New York.
Stephanie Hughes/Marketplace

As customers buy more organic food, a call for more industry oversight

Sep 11, 2017
The market for organic food passed the $40 billion mark in the U.S. last year. As bigger companies get into the organics game, and more imported organic food lands in the U.S., more questions arise for USDA certifiers.
In 2016, organic food sales broke past the $40 billion mark for the first time. Above, a customer shops for milk at a Safeway's "Lifestyle" store in Livermore, California.
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Proposed organic food labeling standards have some crying foul

Dec 29, 2016
The Agriculture Department proposal may not take effect.
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Got organic milk? Danone buys into US organic market

Jul 7, 2016
Danone's acquisition of WhiteWave boosts its footprint in the U.S. organic market.
French food product corporation Danone has announced that it has purchased Denver, Colorado based organic foods producer WhiteWave Foods for $10.4 billion. 
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Grocery chain Kroger banks on innovation

Mar 3, 2016
Kroger's earnings are expected to be a bright spot in the retail space.
An image from Main & Vine's Facebook page announces the opening of the store. It's an attempt by Kroger to move into the organic foods market.
Photo courtesy of Kroger

Organic seafood? Not so fast.

Sep 30, 2015
It's new and complicated territory for the USDA.

Reusable bags: A license for junk food?

Jul 10, 2015
Study says shoppers who brought their own totes bought more treats and organics.

For public good, not for profit.

Whole Foods tries to shed its 'Whole Paycheck' image

May 7, 2015
The company says it’ll start a new chain aimed at those darn millennials.

Chipotle goes GMO-free, except for the meat

Apr 27, 2015
Animals raised on a GMO-free diet are too hard to come by.

Americans go organic but aren't sure what that means

Dec 1, 2014
Consider the power of idealistic consumption.